An agreement is a legal document that details the obligations of two or more parties over the course of a research or services project. Typically, it has specific deliverables and milestones to be met and dictates how the contracting parties will interact, including payment, project timelines, other issues such as publicity, confidentiality, publication and ownership of intellectual property.  Agreements may be called by a variety of names, such as a sponsored research agreement, contract for services, subaward, or master agreement.  Examples are listed below.

Grand Canyon University, not a GCU principal investigator (PI), is the responsible contracting party in formal agreements.  This means all contracts and agreements must be negotiated, reviewed, and accepted by GCU rather than by individual faculty.  While GCU policy gives general direction regarding acceptable terms, the nature of the proposed project and sponsor type will ultimately determine how an agreement is written and who can approve and sign it. 

This table should give you a quick overview of different types of Sponsored Agreements

This page will provide you a detailed overview of different types of Sponsored Agreements 

Sponsored Project/Sponsored Agreements

Sponsored Agreements/Projects are agreements for funds received from federal, state or other governmental agencies, or private organization provided on a contractual or grant basis. The funds must be used for a specific purpose.

A project may be considered a "Sponsored Project" if:

• The investigator defines the project scope identifying research objectives
• The sponsor retains the right to revoke the award with unused funds reverting to sponsor
• The Project scope is outlined in the award
• Award is generally cost-reimbursable
• There is a defined period of performance
• Progress reports/updates to the sponsor are normally on an annual basis
• The project supports further knowledge in a particular subject area or field of research
• The project benefit is generally to further the particular field of science or a sponsor's particular program
• Contains a requirement that unexpended funds must be returned to the sponsor at the end of the project
• Involves the disposition of property, whether tangible or intangible, that may result from the project (equipment, inventions, copyrights, rights to data, etc.)
• Contains budgeted Facilities & Administrative (indirect) costs
• Involves protocol or compliance requirements and oversight
• Contains intellectual property terms
• May result in publication
• Contains audit provisions

Sponsored projects usually require negotiation between the University and the sponsor and always require the signature of an officially designated University signatory.  The Office of Research and Grants (ORG) conducts the negotiation on behalf of the University, often in consultation with other GCU departments, such as the Office of the General Counsel.